Donald Trump’s presidency has been marked by disruption and turmoil, but his support has remained remarkably stable. How can that be? Political observers believe American voters are shifting away from transitory measures of performance like traditional metrics of peace and prosperity, and toward bedrock attitudes about demographic, cultural and economic change. “That is certainly what gives Trump a floor: By stoking those cultural war fires you are going to win over a certain share of the electorate that has this more racist and sexist and xenophobic views,” says Brian Schaffner, a Tufts University political scientist who has extensively studied the correlation between political preferences and cultural attitudes. “When your identity and view of (the nation’s) identity overlaps with your partisan identity so much, it’s hard to ever consider shifting sides,” Schaffner says. Some political observers believe that stability, paradoxically, points to years of polarization and rising turbulence in American politics and life. Brian Schaffner is co-author of several books including “Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail.” Contact him at (617) 627-3467; brian.schaffner@tufts.edu
Category: Politics, Government
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Great Election Show: Running for Local Office
New York Times bestselling author Heather Lende has been writing about her hometown — Haines, Alaska — and about what community means for more than a decade. After the 2016 elections, she was inspired to take a more active role in politics and decided to run for office in Haines. And … she won! For a great election season show, invite Heather to share the funny and entertaining story of her first term on the small-town assembly, and how the political, social, and environmental issues her community faces are not so different from the issues being played out on the national stage. Heather Lende’s new book, “Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics,” could serve as a “how-to guide” for anyone thinking of beginning a career in local politics. She says, “I think that social justice and public health are very much in the realm of local governments, and so much of what happens going forward will fall on the shoulders of people like me — elected to local councils and commissions — and how we interact with the community and the pressure from different interest groups.” Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 991-8328; jboyer@rtirguests.com
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Will God Make Sure That Trump Wins the Election?
A Politico story contends that millions of Americans believe God wanted Donald Trump to be president. But is a second term in God’s plan? Interview Patric Rutherford, Ph.D., who agrees that a Trump White House was God’s will. But find out why he says God may not want Trump to serve two terms. Originally from Jamaica, Dr. Rutherford has studied politics, faith and human nature for decades. His critically acclaimed book is “God and President Trump Plus the Rest of Us.” Ask him why did many deeply committed Christians have no qualms about electing a seemingly godless man? What does the anti-Trump contingent get right and wrong? Why didn’t he vote for Trump? How would God “grade” Trump’s first term in office? Contact Dr. Rutherford at (786) 201-6638; patricrutherford@gmail.com
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Will Young Americans Flex Their Political Muscle?
Will millennials and Generation Zs go to the polls this November? Historically, younger Americans haven’t voted as much as older generations, but in a year like 2020, it’s hard to predict anything, let alone the behavior of young people. What we do know, is that if they vote, millennials and Gen Zs could make a difference in this election’s outcome. Invite Jeremy Levin and Jennifer P. Wisdom, to discuss the reasons younger Americans haven’t voted in the past and what it will take to get them to the polls this year. The authors of “Millennials’ and Generation Z Guide to Voting” will share the basics of the voting process, discuss political parties and how they’ve changed over time, and reveal the long history of voter suppression in America. Jeremy Levine, M.A., is an adjunct professor at multiple universities in New Jersey and New York. Jennifer P. Wisdom, Ph.D., MPH, has worked in complex health care, government, and educational environments for 25 years. She’s the author of the best-selling “Millennials’ Guides” series. Contact her at (503) 484-5679; Jennifer@leadwithwisdom.com
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America’s Deadly Divorce from Science
Harvard University professor Naomi Oreskes believes that the social contract between science and American society is broken beyond repair. “The unfortunate reality is that our elected government is increasingly populated with many men and women who do not merely ignore scientific facts, they appear to despise them and the people who produce them. They see science as something that stands in the way of their political goals, and therefore must be pushed out of the way.” The author of “Why Trust Science?” says the solution isn’t a call for more science or the restoration of “scientific integrity,” whatever that is. She says, “As scientific conclusions become more indisputable, the machinations of those who are threatened by it become more outrageous. There comes a point when maybe one simply has to accept that the dream has died and it is time for a new one.” Naomi Oreskes is professor of the History of Science at Harvard University and the author of nearly 200 books, scholarly papers, and articles. Her opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post and other major publications. Contact her at oreskes@fas.harvard.edu
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New Documentary Goes Inside a Migrant Caravan
Nat Geo’s new documentary “Blood on the Wall” takes viewers to Central America, as a caravan of migrants seeking a better life heads north to the United States, while narco-traffickers — part of the cause for the caravan — move drugs and money back and forth across the same border. The film, from Academy Award-nominated director Sebastian Junger and Emmy-winning producer Nick Quested, explores the depths of corruption plaguing Mexico and Central America and the policies of the past that have made it impossible for everyday people to find justice. Shot in the same journalistic style as their other films, “Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS,” “Korengal,” and the Oscar-nominated “Restrepo,” the documentary highlights the humanity of the migrants and shows how politics, the drug trade, violence, and the desire for safety result in unbelievable anguish happening in plain sight. Producer Nick Quested is available for interviews. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 991-8328; jboyer@rtirguests.com
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Want Americans to Vote? Give Them the Day Off
The 2020 elections face many unique challenges, but a growing number of businesses are promising to give employees the time and tools they need to vote. More than 700 large and small companies have joined Time to Vote, a business-led, nonpartisan coalition. “The need has never been greater for businesses to provide their employees dedicated time off to vote,” says Dan Schulman, president and CEO of PayPal, one of the three companies that founded Time to Vote in 2018. “No American should have to choose between earning a paycheck and voting. Business leaders around the country must step up and do what’s needed to ensure all of their employees will have the opportunity to have their voices heard this November.” Time to Vote is asking more companies to join the movement and commit to giving employees the time and resources they need to vote. The goal is to have more than 1,000 companies – from a diverse set of industries representing every state – join the movement by November 3. Time to Vote was founded by Levi Strauss & Co., Patagonia and PayPal ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, when 411 companies joined. For interviews, contact Tiffany Peng at PayPal at tipeng@paypal.com, Corley Kenna at Patagonia at corley.kenna@patagonia.com or Kelly Mason at Levi Strauss & Co. at newsmediarequests@levi.com