CPF Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy join Fall 2025 CPF Fellows Jim DeBoo, Frank Lavin, April Ryan, David Simas, and Helen Torres, for a discussion on the current state of politics today. They discuss the Trump Administration, Gavin Newsom and California politics, and the impact of Trump's tariffs, ICE raids, and redistricting efforts. The conversation also explores the Fellows’ study groups and their wide-ranging careers in politics and public service. Featuring: -Jim DeBoo: Founder, DeBoo Strategic Affairs; Former Chief of Staff to Gavin Newsom; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Frank Lavin: Former U.S. Ambassador to Singapore; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -April Ryan: Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -David Simas: Managing Director, Emerson Collective; Former President, Obama Foundation; Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Helen Torres: CEO, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE); Fall 2025 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future -Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife -Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Republican Strategist
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 about their challenges, triumphs, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Featuring: Teya Hisel: Former Policy Manager, Downtown Women’s Center; Founder, advocaSC; Incoming MSW Student, U Chicago Joanna Maniti: Founder/CEO, Cherish Hearts International; Former Director of Communications, Girls in Tech, USC Taylor Ryan: Intern, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Founder, Team Sabrina Inc.; Masters in Social Entrepreneurship, USC Class of 2025 Ava Sanchez: Account Coordinator, JCI Worldwide; Former Fellow, Coro Southern California; Founder/Mentor, Ava Edits Essays Kira Sano: Founder/Executive Director, KiraKira; Consultant, Upwork; Director, American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network Kayla Williams: Founder, Little Bucketz basketball camp; Former Guard, USC Women's Basketball Kamy Akhavan: Managing Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Instructor, USC Distinguished Leaders Program
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The Politics of the Conclave
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 leadership could and should influence the world. Featuring: Father Tom Gibbons: Catholic Priest; Vice President, Paulist Productions; Creator of the TV program “Isaac Hecker and the Journey of Catholic America”; Former Administrator of St. Peter's Church in Toronto, Canada Richard Wood: President of the USC Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies; Expert in religion and democracy; Author of "A Shared Future: Faith-Based Organizing for Racial Equity and Ethical Democracy" and "Faith in Action: Religion, Race, and Democratic Organizing in America" Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife
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Pathways to Peace in the Middle East? A Conversation with Ben Rhodes and Max Boot
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 Antisemitism and Other Forms of Hatred" series. Featuring: Max Boot: Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations; Author of New York Times Bestsellers "The Road Not Taken" and "Reagan: His Life and Legend" Ben Rhodes: Former Deputy National Security Advisor; Co-founder and Co-chair of National Security Action; Host of Crooked Media's "Pod Save the World"; Author of "After the Fall: Being American in the World We've Made"; Former Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future Bob Shrum: Director, USC Center for the Political Future; Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics, USC Dornsife Bill Deverell: USC Dornsife Divisional Dean for the Social Science Beong-Soo Kim: USC Interim President; Senior Vice President and General Counsel, USC
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Boom, Not Gloom: A Battle Plan for the Next Four Years of Climate (In)Action
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 Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability. Featuring: Jennifer Granholm: Former U.S. Secretary of Energy and First Female Governor of Michigan; One of Time’s Most Influential People 2024 Joe Árvai: Director, USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability
The Bully Pulpit has merged with the Let’s Find Common Ground podcast. As the tone of public discourse becomes increasingly angry and divisive, Let’s Find Common Ground offers a healing path to reaching agreement and moving forward. At the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, we bring together top Republicans and Democrats to transcend partisan divisions and explore solutions to our most pressing national and global challenges. Join veteran strategists Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy along with other Center staff and major voices for fun conversations that advance civil dialogue and practical politics. The conversations go behind the curtain with elected officials, campaign staff, journalists, academics, pundits, and political operatives. Every exchange is guided by standards central to the Center’s mission: Respect each other and respect the truth. Opponents are adversaries, not enemies. And if you lose, don’t burn down the stadium.
USA