Let's Find Common Ground

From cars to entertainment, technology to retailing, most large industries have faced huge changes in the past thirty years. But none more so than the news business.  Since 2000, countless numbers of local and regional newspapers went bust. Those that did survive fired a big percentage of their reporters and slimmed down. The past two decades also saw the rise of social media and highly opinionate...

Unlike the vast majority of journalists who cover American politics, Salena Zito lives far away from the centers of power and wealth. She writes about small-town America and the parts of the country that much of the media doesn't cover. Zito's commitment to understanding the heartland of America is evident in her frequent trips along the nation's back roads. She drives thousands of miles, avoiding...

More than 50 Members of Congress have announced that they're not running for reelection in 2024. Many cite political dysfunction and angry divisive rhetoric as reasons behind their decision to quit. Retiring Democratic Senator Joe Manchin recently told CNN: "Every one of us should be ashamed of what we're living through now in the 118th Congress." But there are constructive examples of cooperation...

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy joins Albert Gore, Zero Emissions Transportation Association Executive Director, and David Schwietert, Alliance for Automotive Innovation Chief Policy Officer, for a conversation on the polarized politics of electric-powered vehicles and what polling around this big divide reveals about the future of transportation.   Featuring: Albert Gore: Executive Director, Zero Emi...

Debra Kahn, POLITICO California Policy Editor, joins former California Senator Fran Pavley, Pulse Fund Managing Partner Tenzin Seldon, and lawyer and environmentalist Joanne Witty for a conversation on the impact of climate change on the 2024 election and beyond. This discussion is part of the "Climate Forward 2024: Climate at the Crossroads" conference, sponsored by USC Wrigley Institute for Envi...

Many Americans are exhausted by polarization and hyper-partisanship. Bitter divides are not just a problem for election campaigns and public institutions; they're also damaging the workplace.  Employee morale at many businesses and nonprofits has plunged— impacted by tribalism, culture wars, and political divides. CEOs are often in a tough spot. Some have banned talking politics at the office. Or...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Neera Tanden, Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to President Biden, for a conversation on climate policy in the Biden-Harris Administration, the ClimateCorps, and practical solutions to climate change. This discussion is part of the "Climate Forward 2024: Climate at the Crossroads" conference, sponsored by USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability and CPF, i...

Partisan divides are as deep as ever. Most Americans are exhausted by the dysfunction and divisions in American politics. Some scholars claim the country is on the brink of civil war. But several recent polls suggest that clear majorities of voters agree on many issues.  We dive into the data from two different groups that study American attitudes and beliefs. Kate Carney is chief of staff for the...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins education experts, Pedro Noguera, Macke Raymond, and Dr. Darline Robles, for a conversation on education reform and policy. They discuss the politics of public education, the role of parental rights, why some public schools are failing, what makes some charter schools successful when others struggle, whether or not taxpayer funds should be used to provide vouchers to p...

Soon after Joe Biden became president he said in his inaugural address that 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, how it got worse in rece...

Acclaimed musician and recording artist Daryl Davis has interviewed hundreds of KKK members and other White supremacists and influenced many of them to renounce their racist ideology. We hear his brave and remarkable story. Daryl's personal quest began many years ago, after a concert when he was in a country music band. A card-carrying member of the Ku Klux Klan praised his piano playing. Daryl re...

Independent voters make up well over 40 percent of the voting public. But you wouldn't know that from media coverage, which focuses almost exclusively on red versus blue. Independents are often overlooked or seen as wishy-washy, bending in the wind. Our guests on this episode say that's a big misconception.  In this show, we look at a huge group of voters, including many young people, who make up...

Jonathan Martin, POLITICO senior political reporter, joins political experts, Nick Troiano and Kimberly Wyman, for a conversation on the state of democracy, election reforms, and the structural challenges of American politics.  Featuring:  Nick Troiano: Founding Executive Director, Unite America Kimberly Wyman: Former Secretary of State, Washington State; Election Security Expert CISA Jonathan Mar...

CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy joins Sasha Issenberg and Michael Rich for a conversation on the growing prevalence and impact of misinformation and disinformation in our politics.   Featuring:  · Sasha Issenberg: Award-winning Author on Modern Campaigns & Marriage Equality · Michael Rich: President and CEO, RAND Corporation (2011-2022) · Mike Murphy: Co-Director, Center for the Political Future; NBC...

FOX 11 News Co-Anchor Elex Michaelson joins political experts, John Anzalone, Stephanie Cutter, and Jessica Millan Patterson, for a conversation on the 2024 general election, including the key voting issues this election, Donald Trump's appeal to voters, and the role of third parties.  Featuring:  John Anzalone: Founder, Impact Research; Biden Pollster Stephanie Cutter: Co-Founder, Precision Strat...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins political and media experts, Chris Cadelago, Jane Coaston, John McConnell, and Carissa Joy Smith, for a conversation on the 2024 primary elections and its impact on the upcoming general election. Featuring:  Chris Cadelago: POLITICO's California Bureau Chief; Former White House Correspondent Jane Coaston: "The Argument" Podcast Host, The New York Times; Spring 2024 Fel...

In this presidential election year, partisan divides cause political gridlock and distrust. We're encouraged to believe that we're right and those on the other side are ignorant, stupid, or evil. But avoiding awkward conversations with those we disagree with is a big reason why America is so bitterly divided.   Journalist, bridge builder, and author Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of...

CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Spring 2024 CPF Fellows, Douglas Brinkley, Jane Coaston, Ron Galperin, and Tim Miller for a lively discussion on the 2024 primary elections, presidential race, and campaigns. Featuring:  Douglas Brinkley: Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities & Professor of History, Rice University; Spring 2024 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Jane C...

American politics are often dominated by the loudest voices on the left and right. In this episode, we learn the crucial difference between what Americans get from their elected representatives and what they really want to hear. Professor Sean Westwood of Dartmouth College is our guest. As Director of The Polarization Research Lab, he studies American political behavior and public opinion, examini...

With our political system mired in problems, there's plenty of talk about 'fixing politics.' But our guest Mark Sappenfield, Editor of the Christian Science Monitor, says that idea is too simplistic. What needs to change, he says "is upstream from politics. It's how we relate to each other as human beings in our society. And until that changes, politics isn't going to change." In a deeply thoughtf...

Our final podcast for 2023 is the one-hundredth episode of "Let's Find Common Ground". We look back and include special moments from six shows during the year. Americans disagree on many things, and there's nothing wrong with that. Journalist and author Amanda Ripley explains why, all too often, we see conflicts that are more about scoring points than seeking resolution. Rachel Kleinfeld of the Ca...

Recently, during a public event at Utah's State Capitol, Governor Spencer Cox issued a stark warning: "Either we, the people, collectively decide we're going to stop hating our fellow Americans, or we'll start shooting each other."   In our podcast, we hear why Governor Cox passionately believes that the country is heading in a dangerous direction with hyperpartisanship and political dysfunction a...

The state of public discourse is often dire and includes insults and threats. We assume the worst of the other side and are not afraid to call them out publicly, especially online. Our guest on today's show says this behavior isn't just rude. It's uncivil. And that civility - not politeness - makes a real difference in how we think about ourselves and treat each other. Our guest, Alexandra Hudson,...

CPF Director Bob Shrum joins New York Times reporter Adam Nagourney for a conversation on his new book, "The Times: How the Newspaper of Record Survived Scandal, Scorn, and the Transformation of Journalism,"  and the role journalism plays in politics. In partnership with USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy. Featuring:  Adam Nagourney: National Political Reporter, The New Yo...

When conservative Republican Mark Klicker and liberal Democrat Alex Ramel met in person for the first time, their opinions about each other rapidly changed. A frosty online exchange of policy differences over Zoom quickly turned into a constructive example of close bipartisan cooperation.  After Washington State eased COVID restrictions and resumed in-person legislative sessions last year, Represe...