Let's Find Common Ground

Discover the power of young leaders changing the world through nonprofits! USC alumni share their incredible journeys in the nonprofit sector and reveal what it really takes to make a difference. CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan joins nonprofit leaders for a conversation packed with invaluable advice and real-world stories. From raising funds to navigating career paths, these leaders open up abo...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Paulist Productions Vice President Father Tom Gibbons and USC Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies President Richard Wood for a discussion on the politics of the conclave to select Pope Francis' successor. They discuss how the next Pope will be selected, what are the political calculations involved in the selection process, and how the Catholic Church under new lead...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins renowned foreign policy experts Ben Rhodes and Max Boot for a discussion on pathways to peace in the Middle East. They discuss the current conflicts in the Middle East, the prospects of a two-state or single state solution, the future of Gaza, and the role of the U.S. in ending the conflicts and fostering a peace process. This event is part of the CPF "Combating Antise...

USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability Director Joe Árvai joins former U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm for a discussion on how to move forward with climate change and energy issues under the Trump administration and how Democrats and Republicans can help push climate action forward. This discussion is part of the Climate Forward conference in partnership with the USC W...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and former U.S. Representative Garret Graves (R-LA) for a discussion on the state of climate policy under the Trump administration and how Democrats and Republicans can cooperate to tackle climate change issues. This conversation is part of the Climate Forward conference in partnership with the USC Wrigley Institute for Environm...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins media experts, Martin Gurri, Adam Nagourney, and Gordon Stables, for a discussion on how the changing media landscape has contributed to global populist trends. They discuss the transformation of the media landscape, the role of the elites in the media and politics, and media's impact on the state of democracy globally.    Featuring: Martin Gurri: Former CIA Analyst; A...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins immigration experts, Andrew Arthur, Steven Davis, Deisy del Real, Ed Goeas, and Ehsan Zaffar, for a discussion on the future of immigration policy. They discuss the current immigration system and policies, amnesty, immigrant's contribution to the U.S. economy, and immigration reforms possible in today's political climate. We are immensely grateful to Sue and Jeff White...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci for a discussion on current events and the first month of the second Trump administration. They discuss the state of the Republican and Democratic parties, the impact of Trump's domestic and international actions, and even touch on Bitcoin.   Featuring: · Anthony Scaramucci: Former White House Communications...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins bestselling author and CNN Chief Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin for a discussion on presidential pardons and Toobin's new book "The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy." They discuss famous pardons throughout history and the latest pardons from Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Featuring: Jeffrey Toobin: CNN Chief Legal Analyst; Bestselling author of "True Cr...

Author Sasha Issenberg joins political and media experts, Jane Coaston, Reince Priebus, Simon Rosenberg, and Chuck Todd, for a conversation on what to expect during Donald Trump's second term as president. They discuss Trump's first actions as president, his influence on politics, how the Democratic Party has changed over time, and how politics is always shifting. This discussion is part of the Wa...

Democratic Strategist Tad Devine joins political and polling experts, Dale Butland, John Della Volpe, Mike Madrid, Carissa Smith, and Stephanie Young, for a conversation exploring how Kamala Harris and Democrats performed during the 2024 general election. They discuss the Democratic Party's messaging, how candidates connected—or didn't—with key voting demographics, and what polling revealed about...

FOX 11 News Anchor Elex Michaelson leads a panel of political and media experts to examine why and how Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. They discuss Trump's and Kamala Harris' campaign strategies and messaging, and how the Democratic and Republican parties reached voters. This discussion is part of the Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "The Trumping of America: Why and What...

CPF is proud to announce that our "The Bully Pulpit" podcast and the Common Ground Commtitee's "Let's Find Common Ground" podcast are now merged into one powerhouse program. The new "Let's Find Common Ground" podcast brings together America's leading politicians, strategists, journalists, and academics from across the political spectrum for in-depth discussions where we respect each other, and we...

Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy welcome the Spring 2025 CPF Fellows to USC for a virtual discussion of Donald Trump's inauguration and what a second Trump term may look like. The conversation features:   Bob Shrum (moderator) - Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future Ed Goeas – Republican Pollster and Strategist Betsy Fischer Martin – Executive Director, Women & Politics Institute at Amer...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Tad Devine (Chief Strategist, Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign) and Steve Grand (Republican political consultant) to discuss the 2024 presidential election results and which issues mattered the most for Democrats and Republicans and third party voters. In partnership with the USC Capital Campus and USC Price Center for Inclusive Democracy.   Featuring: · Tad...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Todd Purdum (author; former New York Times Washington Correspondent), David Simas (former CEO of the Obama Foundation), and Carissa Smith (former Senior Public Engagement Advisor in the White House Office of Public Engagement) for a discussion on the 2024 election campaign strategies and what to expect on Election Night. They discuss the candidates' closing messages, h...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins His Royal Highness Reza Pahlavi, Exiled Crown Prince of Iran, for a discussion on democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Middle East at a critical moment in the region's history.   Featuring: - Reza Pahlavi: Crown Prince of Iran; USC Alum ('85) - Bob Shrum: Director, Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife - Moh El-Naggar: U...

Election 2024: Where Are We Now?   CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Jane Coaston, journalist and CNN contributor, and David Simas, former CEO of the Obama Foundation, for a discussion on how the 2024 election looks with less than two weeks to go. They discuss how each candidate is performing in the polls, the importance of the presidential debate, and each campaign's strategy and messaging. Featuring:...

CPF hosts a panel discussion on "Experiencing Hatred: True Stories to End Hate and Educate" as part of our "Combating Antisemitism and Hatred Series." The series explores the struggle against antisemitism in the context of countering hate, reducing violence, promoting empathy, and nurturing civil dialogue.   Featuring:  Jeff Blattner: US Department of Justice Deputy Assistant Attorney General; For...

CPF Director Bob Shrum and Marylouise Oates, former activist and LA Times journalist, join former First Lady staffers Anita McBride, Noelia Rodriguez, and Tina Tchen for a discussion on the influence of presidential First Ladies on politics, policy, and American society.   Featuring:  Anita McBride: Former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush Noelia Rodriguez: Former Press Secretary and Directo...

CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy share their reactions on the historic presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris and the implications for the 2024 presidential election. They discuss who won, how their debate performance helps or hurts their campaigns, and voters' reactions to their messaging.    Featuring:    Bob Shrum: Director, Center f...

CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Fall 2024 CPF Fellows, Jeff Blattner, Mike Bonin, Jane Coaston, Lea Endres, and Carissa Smith, for a discussion on recent political trials, the historic presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, and how the 2024 presidential race is shaping up.   Featuring:  Jeff Blattner: Former Deputy Assistant Atto...

This episode makes a powerful case for compromise and pragmatism as crucial ingredients in passing laws and getting things done.  Our guests are Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Brian Fitzpatrick, who are both members of the Problem Solvers Caucus: 62 Members of Congress, evenly split between Republicans and Democrats.  Although you wouldn't know it from national media coverage, The Prob...

Almost everyone has an opinion about public education, especially in the years since the COVID pandemic when the physical closure of schools and online schooling became highly controversial. The vast majority of American students attend public school, but the numbers are falling, partially because of growing financial support for school choice and the changing views of many parents. According to a...

Abortion is one of the most passionate, divisive, and emotional issues in the 2024 election campaign. The debate is often dominated by extremes on both sides. But what if passionate pro-life and pro-choice movement leaders could get together in the same room and learn how to disagree better? That is exactly what happened in Massachusetts, beginning in the mid 1990's. Leaders on both sides held sec...