Gen Z and Democracy: Disillusioned and Disengaged?
Release Date: 09/20/2025
California at 175 Conference: "First in Taxes, First in Results?"
Let’s Find Common Ground
Former Los Angeles Controller Ron Galperin moderates a conversation with political experts David Crane, Bob Hertzberg, and Richard Leib on how California's tax structure compares nationally. They discuss whether the state's high revenue levels translate into effective public and private outcomes, and what reforms could better align fiscal policy with performance. CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan gives closing remarks. This conversation is part of CPF's "California at 175: Stuck or Moving Forward?" conference in partnership with the USC Open Dialogue Project and USC Casden Institute. ...
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California at 175 Conference: "The Trends That Turned California from Red to Blue"
Let’s Find Common Ground
POLITICO's Melanie Mason moderates a conversation with political experts Douglas Becker, Susan Estrich, Ken Khachigian, and Hank Plante on the history of political parties in California, voter trends from the 2024 presidential election, how the "Trump factor" affects Democrats and Republicans, and the upcoming 2026 midterms. This conversation is part of CPF's "California at 175: Stuck or Moving Forward?" conference in partnership with the USC Open Dialogue Project and USC Casden Institute. Featuring: -Douglas Becker: Professor of International Relations, USC -Susan Estrich: Legal...
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California at 175 Conference: "Ballot Initiatives 2026"
Let’s Find Common Ground
CPF's "California at 175: Stuck or Moving Forward?" conference begins with welcome remarks from CPF Co-Director Mike Murphy, CPF Managing Director Kamy Akhavan, and Neeraj Sood, USC Open Dialogue Project Director. Spring 2026 CPF Fellow Seema Mehta moderates a conversation with political experts Mike Bonin, Fernando Guerra, Mike Murphy, and Amy Thoma Tan on the 2026 ballot initiatives in California. They discuss the most impactful ballot measures in California history, how Democrats and Republicans utilize ballot initiatives, and the initiatives in the upcoming 2026 midterms. This conference...
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Rage & The Republic: A Fireside Chat with Jonathan Turley
Let’s Find Common Ground
CPF hosts a conversation with attorney and legal scholar Jonathan Turley and USC Professor Morris Levy about Turley's new book, "Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution." They discuss the crisis of faith in American institutions, how key lessons from history can guide us through today’s radical reform and political instability, and how the state of politics today affects democracy and freedom in the future. This conversation is in partnership with the USC Open Dialogue Project and the USC chapter of the Heterodox Academy. Featuring: -Jonathan Turley:...
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Redistricting Is Sexy! A Look Back on Prop 50 with CPF Fellow Seema Mehta
Let’s Find Common Ground
Spring 2026 CPF Fellow Seema Mehta joins redistricting experts Christian Grose, Paul Mitchell, Matt Rexroad, and Amy Thoma Tan for a conversation on Prop 50, redistricting, and the future of representation in the United States. They discuss the history of redistricting, California’s Proposition 50, Texas’s redistricting bill, and how this influences political power, changing political norms, and the upcoming 2026 midterms. This conversation is part of Mehta’s study group “Politics, Polls, and Punditry — the Inner Workings of Modern-Day Campaigns.” Featuring: -Christian...
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Britain, Europe, and America: The Future of the Transatlantic Alliance
Let’s Find Common Ground
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins James Cleverly, former UK Secretary of State for the Home Department, for a conversation on the past, present, and future of US-UK relations. They discuss how leadership transitions, elections, and global crises shape cooperation between Washington and London, and what the next chapter of this transatlantic relationship may hold. This conversation is in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Featuring: - James Cleverly: British Conservative Politician; Member of Parliament for Braintree; Former UK Secretary of State for the Home Department;...
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New CPF Fellows on Politics Today
Let’s Find Common Ground
CPF Director Bob Shrum joins Spring 2026 CPF Fellows Mark Campbell, Yemisi Egbewole, Garret Graves, and Seema Mehta for a discussion on the current state of politics today. They discuss the 2026 midterms, the Trump Administration's impact on the upcoming elections and media, ICE raids, and how the Democrats and Republicans are approaching the midterms. The conversation also explores the Fellows’ study groups and their wide-ranging careers in politics and public service. Featuring: Mark Campbell: GOP Campaign Strategist; Spring 2026 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Yemisi...
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Warschaw Conference 2025: "From The Off-Year to the Midterms"
Let’s Find Common Ground
USC Annenberg Media Center Director Christina Bellantoni leads a panel discussion with political and media experts Mark Campbell, Jon Favreau, John Heilemann, and Seema Mehta on the 2026 midterms. They discuss what to expect as we approach the 2026 midterms, what Democrats and Republicans need to do to reach voters, and the political implications of the 2025 special elections on the 2026 midterms. The panel ends with closing remarks from CPF Director Bob Shrum and USC Dornsife Dean James Bullock. This conversation is part of CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250:...
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Warschaw Conference 2025: "Redistricting: Are Politicians Choosing Their Voters?"
Let’s Find Common Ground
POLITICO Enterprise Managing Editor Sasha Issenberg leads a panel discussion with political experts Jim DeBoo, Christian Grose, David Simas, and Amy Thoma Tan on redistricting and whether it's getting too partisan. They discuss the state of redistricting nationally, the California Prop. 50 results, and how the results impact Democrats and Republicans moving forward. This conversation is part of CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250: Young or Old Democracy?" Featuring: Jim DeBoo: Founder, DeBoo Strategic Affairs; Former Chief of Staff to Gov. Gavin Newsom;...
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Warschaw Conference 2025: "American Democracy: From George Washington to Donald Trump and Beyond"
Let’s Find Common Ground
This panel discussion from CPF's annual Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics "America 250: Young or Old Democracy?" begins with welcome remarks from CPF Director Bob Shrum and USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim. Then CNN Anchor Elex Michaelson leads the panel discussion with political experts Mike Donilon, Ed Goeas, Jeffery Jenkins, and Richard North Patterson on the state of American democracy. They discuss how democracy drives voters, key lessons from history that are most helpful in today's political climate, and what to expect from Democrats and Republicans as we approach the 2028...
info_outlineCPF Assistant Director Diego Andrades joins voting experts Laura Brill, Jahnavi Rao, and Maddy Roth for a discussion on the forces reshaping how young voters approach civic life and democracy. They discuss Gen Z’s voting patterns, strategies for reaching young voters, and how Democrats and Republicans can capture Gen Z voters.
Featuring:
- Laura Brill: Founder & CEO, The Civics Center; Former Law Clerk for Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg
- Jahnavi Rao: President & Founder, New Voters
- Maddy Roth: Executive Director, I Am A Voter
- Diego Andrades: Assistant Director, USC Center for the Political Future
- Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife